162 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[July - , 
“ 6. Flowers of a very fine pure white, from 2 in. to 3 in. in diameter ; their rich blooms, 
held up on tall foot-stalks, give to this variety a remarkably gay appearance. 
“ 7. Fine-formed pure white flowers, the centre of the petals, covered with small red spots, 
forms a red star on the white ground of the flowers. 
“ 8. Flowers very large, fine-formed and flat, the flower-stock held far above the leaves ; 
coloured like some orchids, snow-white, with large round nicely-bordered dark purple-red 
spots, splendid variety. 
“ 9. The spots are smaller and less remarkable than in No. 8, in other respects of same 
merit, very fine. 
“ 10. Large white flowers with countless w T axy red spots, forming a star like No. 7. 
“ Prcecox major, large snow-white flower, earlier than all the before-named varieties, very 
commendable on account of its free-flowering qualities.” 
The general superiority of these seedlings is said to consist in their much- 
improved form, more floriferous habit, larger and finer flowers, of more distinct 
and in some cases dazzling colours. The leaves of these valuable hybrids have 
nearly all the same character; they are about 12 in. in diameter, sharply-toothed, 
dazzling dark green, with lighter ribs and lines, on taller stalks, according to 
their age, more or less inclining and evergreen, as damaged foliage is always 
replaced by a new growth.—T. Moore. 
INFLUENCE OF SOILS ON PEAKS. 
yet, I fear, possess but a limited knowledge of the influence of certain 
soils and localities upon the different kinds of Pears, and hence the 
many different opinions as to their quality. The stock, too, is sometimes 
MT culpable when it is least suspected, and consequently escapes censure. 
B. says that with him a certain pear is all that can be desired. 0., on the other 
hand, asserts that it is of little or no value. Such being the case, descriptive 
catalogues are of no use beyond intimating what the growers have for sale. 
I presume that most gardeners will agree with me when I assert that we 
labour under difficulties as to what kinds should be selected to suit various con¬ 
ditions. Would it not be well to request your numerous contributors to furnish 
a list of those Pears which are found to be best suited to their soil and situation ? 
This would to a great extent solve the problem. I was gravely told, not many 
months ago, by a person who ought to have known better, that the character of 
the soil for fruit trees was immaterial—quite a secondary consideration, so long as 
they enjoyed a congenial climate, from which one would infer that the atmosphere 
provides all the elements of nutrition. 
I have been led to make the preceding remarks from reading the statements 
made by Mr. Tillery regarding the quality of certain Pears. To a great extent 
his experience differs from mine here in Gloucestershire. I am aware that Jose¬ 
phine de Malines has the reputation of being an excellent winter Pear, but with 
me the flavour has never advanced beyond that of a second-rate variety, although 
I have grown it for a good number of years, both as a standard and against a 
south wall. Hacoris Incomparable , too, cannot be called more than a second- 
class kind here. It is certainly a fine-looking fruit, but the difficulty is to secure 
more than one-third of a crop, so I have discarded it from our collection. I can- 
